Monthly Archives: July 2013

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Whether it’s an opportunity to clinch a title or extend their postseason runs another day, there is a lot at stake for Little League District 40 all-star baseball teams Sunday in three Southern California tournaments.

Starting at 1 p.m., Sherman Oaks’ 10-under all-star team will face Eastlake of Chula Vista at Chollas Lake Little League Complex in San Diego in the second game of their best-of-three championship series.

Eastlake (11-0) posted a 5-3 victory Saturday, forcing Sherman Oaks (10-1) into a must-win situation in order to produce a deciding game at 5:30 p.m. Monday.

At 4 p.m. in Long Beach, Sherman Oaks South’s 12-under all-star team will also face Eastlake (12-0) in a must-win game at Stearns Champions Park.

Sherman Oaks South (10-1) lost 6-3 on Saturday in the first game of the best-of-three championship series and needs a victory to remain in contention to advance to the Little League Western Regionals next week in San Bernardino. A deciding game would be played at 6 p.m. Monday.

At 5:30 p.m. in El Cajon, Encino’s 11-under all-stars will meet Allied Gardens at Fletcher Hills Little League in the second game of their best-of-three championship series.

Encino (14-2) prevailed 4-1 over Allied Gardens (10-2) on Saturday and needs to win one of the next two games to capture the title. A deciding game would be scheduled for 6:30 p.m. Monday.

Anthony Ervin produced the fastest split for the Americans on the 400-meter freestyle relay Sunday, but it wasn’t enough to lift the U.S. to gold at the FINA World Championships in Barcelona, Spain.

The Hart graduate gave the U.S. the lead after clocking 47.44 on the third leg, but Texas’ Jimmy Feigen couldn’t hold off Jeremy Stravius on the anchor and France prevailed by a 3:11.18 to 3:11.42 margin. USC’s Vladimir Morozov helped Russia take bronze in 3:11.44.

It marked the second consecutive World Championships in which the Americans didn’t win the 400 freestyle relay, taking bronze in 2011 in Shanghai, China, after capturing gold in 2009 in Rome.

The last time Ervin competed in the World Championships was in 2003, also in Barcelona.

Simi Valley’s Justin Campbell pitched 5 2/3 innings, allowing six hits and one run, walking a batter and striking out four for the U.S. 12-under national baseball team, which captured the gold medal Sunday with an 8-1 victory over host Chinese Taipei at the IBAF World Cup.

Campbell also went 2 for 3 with a run and an RBI for the Americans (8-1), who secured the championship after Chinese Taipei won the inaugural IBAF 12-under World Cup with a 3-2 victory over Cuba in 2011.

The U.S. scored seven runs in the second inning, including a home run from Joseph Naranjo and an RBI single from Campbell, who only allowed a run in the fourth to Chinese Taipei (7-2).

Campbell finished the tournament 2-0 with a save, allowing one run and nine hits in 13 1/3 innings, scattering four walks and striking out 12.

He also went 6 for 9 with three doubles, four runs and two RBIs for the Americans, who rebounded to win six in a row after a 3-2 loss July 21 to Venezuela, outscoring opponents 74-3.

After winning 10 in a row thanks to lots of home runs and dominant pitching, Sherman Oaks South Little League learned what it feels like on the other side.

With dreams of eventually making it to Williamsport, Pa. for the annual World Series, the 12-year-olds lost 6-3 to Eastlake of Chula Vista before a crowd of about 500 on Saturday in the first round of the best-of-three Southern California regional baseball championship at Stearns Champions Park.

Sherman Oaks (10-1) went without a home run for the first time, and the team must win twice in two days beginning at 4 p.m. today to qualify for the Western Regionals in San Bernardino– the last stop before the World Series.

Hart defeated top-seeded Valley North (Chatsworth) 3-0 and Saugus edged No. 2 Woodland Hills West (El Camino Real) 3-2 in 9 innings in the Valley Invitational Baseball League semifinals Saturday, setting up a clash of Foothill League rivals in Tuesday’s final at 7 p.m. at Birmingham.

Hart was the No. 4 seed in the playoffs, defeating Royal and Calabasas to reach the semifinals. Saugus received the No. 3 seed and knocked off Crespi and Camarillo.

Hart’s last VIBL title came in 2004. Saugus has never won a VIBL championship.

Thousand Oaks’ 18-under all-star baseball team held a seven-run lead over Grand Rapids (Mich.) with two outs in the top of the seventh inning Saturday at the Big League World Series in Easley, S.C.

Grand Rapids rallied with five runs and had the go-ahead run at the plate, but Jackson Simonsgaard was able to halt the comeback, helping Thousand Oaks secure a 7-5 pool-play victory.

Thousand Oaks (11-1), which rebounded from a 6-1 loss Friday to Greenville, S.C., must defeat tournament host South Carolina District 1 on Sunday in order to have a chance to compete in the U.S. semifinals Tuesday.

Raymond Lambert and Brandon Richardson-Fisher combined to allow one hit with five strikeouts in six innings for Thousand Oaks, before Daniel Gober ran into trouble in the seventh, allowing five runs on four hits in 2/3 inning.

Brayden Hubert had two hits — including a double in the fifth — and two RBIs, with Jeffrey Pemberton adding two hits and an RBI. Austin Cole and AJ Sheehan both contributed two hits for Thousand Oaks, which received RBIs from Chase Ryan and Ricky Davis.

With its 9-1 semifinal victory Saturday over Japan, the U.S. 12-under national baseball team will play host Chinese Taipei for the gold medal Sunday in the IBAF World Cup.

Simi Valley’s Justin Campbell has been instrumental in the Americans’ run to the final, collecting four hits in six at-bats — including three doubles — with three runs and an RBI.

Campbell has also pitched the most frequently on the U.S. staff, making three appearances and throwing 7 2/3 scoreless innings to record a win and a save, allowing three hits and three walks, striking out eight.

Campbell pitched 2/3 relief innings in a 2-0 quarterfinal victory Friday over Brazil, striking out both batters he faced to earn the save. He opened the tournament July 18 with a three-hitter, allowing two walks and striking out six in a complete-game effort in a 2-0 win over Panama.

Chinese Taipei (7-1) posted an 8-0 semifinal victory over Venezuela, the only team to defeat the U.S. in the World Cup, handing the Americans (7-1) a 3-2 setback July 21.

Japan handed Chinese Taipei its only loss with a 4-2 triumph July 20. Chinese Taipei won the inaugural IBAF 12-under World Cup in 2011, defeating Cuba 3-2 in the final.

From Long Beach to San Diego, Little League District 40 will be well-represented Saturday in three Southern California baseball tournaments.

Beginning at noon, Sherman Oaks’ 10-under all-star team will face Eastlake of Chula Vista at Chollas Lake Little League in San Diego in the first game of their best-of-three championship series.

Sherman Oaks (10-0) defeated Moorpark 9-5 on Wednesday in the North sub-divisional final, with Eastlake (10-0) knocking off Ocean View 12-3 in the South sub-divisional title game.

At 5 p.m. in Long Beach, Sherman Oaks South’s 12-under all-star team will also face Eastlake at Stearns Champions Park in the first game of the best-of-three championship series to determine the Southern California representative at the Little League Western Regionals next week in San Bernardino.

Sherman Oaks (10-0) outlasted Santa Maria Southside 11-9 in seven innings Wednesday to capture the North sub-divisional title, with Eastlake (11-0) defeating Highland 15-5 in five innings in the South sub-divisional championship.

At 6:30 p.m. in El Cajon, Encino’s 11-under all-stars will meet Allied Gardens at Fletcher Hills Little League in the first game of their best-of-three championship series.

Antelope Valley’s 18-under softball all-star team is looking to return to the Big League World Series after a third-place finish at the Western Regionals last year and the District 51 representative will rely heavily on Golden League MVP Marissa Harmon in order to do so.

The Western Regional begins Saturday at West Lancaster Little League Field, with Westchester Del Rey playing Vancouver, Wash., at 5 p.m., followed by Antelope Valley taking on East Central Arizona at 8 p.m.

Harmon, a Highland graduate and Adams State signee, will provide stability at catcher and a strong bat in the middle of Antelope Valley’s lineup after hitting .514 with four home runs and 26 RBIs for the Bulldogs this season.

The District 51 team will also look to former Desert High standout and Tennessee State utility player Lindsay Burgess, as well as Bishop pitcher Kelly Tiner for veteran presence.

Westchester Del Rey is looking to capture its third straight regional title after defeating Montana in last year’s championship series and Antelope Valley in 2011.

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